Earth day

I apologize again for the large number of emails and such that are coming home.  Thank you to those who have responded quickly. I really appreciate it.  

Emails/Notes still waiting on:

Lorax Permissions

Plate purchase (and $15 payment) if interested

PLEASE SEE THE ABC COUNTDOWN--IT STARTS THIS COMING THURSDAY!

We began the week with talking about what recycling is---taking something we are done with, bringing it to a factory and then they make it into something new.  We then took a variety of recyclables and sorted them into groups.

Students then used that data to fill out a graph.  We then interpreted that data into which had more, less, same, etc.  Students like the opportunity to be using the chalk board.

Through out the week, students also did a cut and paste project with ways they can save the earth and watched videos on Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling.  With the trip this week, the time spent on material was a little shortened.

The trip on Thursday was fun!  Though chilly, everyone was dressed for the weather.  Students went with one of 2 guides and traveled through he woods and prairie discussing all the happenings of the plants and animals just waking for spring.  Students had a good time.  Were they exhausted when they got home? I know I was!

We started our number of the week this week.  Students start the week off with writing the number and coloring that number of farm animals.  The then practice writing it with every dismissal from the carpet.  On Tuesdays, they write the number of the week and their name in shaving cream for morning work.  On Thursday, students practice rainbow writing (writing the number 4 times in 5 colors) BUT EMPHASIZING WE ARE WRITING NOT COLORING THE NUMBERS IN.  They also get to choose an illustration and color that image.  

This week we worked on numbers 0, 1, 2

On Tuesday, students put the correct number of stickers on their number(s) for the week and color that correct number of pictures.  On Thursday they find that number in magazines and in advertisements and cut 3 out and glue them onto the corresponding number(s).  

A big part of kindergarten readiness is making sure the student can correctly and efficiently use their tools.  It is also that their letters are written (and identified) correctly so they can begin the reading and writing process.  PLEASE help your child hold pencils and scissors correctly, name the letters and numbers, and correctly write the letters and numbers.  

pencils need to be held in a "tri-pod/pincher grip.
Pointer and thumb should pinch the pencil and the
pencil should rest in the middle finger on the top
kuckle.  The thumb and the pointer should make
a round/circular shape

Scissors need to be held thumb up, cut
away from the body, and pushing foward
as the fingers and thumb open and close.

Writing the letters correctly will help them greatly in kindergarten as they will be more fluent in their writing if it is done correctly.  A good rule of thumb: START AT THE TOP AND CIRCLE BACK.  Circle back homework came home this week as well; it is essential students circle back rather than forwards for the correct formation of the letter.   I can send home the correct formation of the letters to help you work with them (this also came home in Holiday Homework).

Writing the numbers is equally as important as it is essential in communicating their math answers.  Please help your child name and write the numbers they best they can (ideally: count objects to 10, write up to 10, identify up to 12, count orally to 20, ).  Please note how the numbers look in the image.  This is how we write our numbers including the 2, 4, and 9 (not as they show up when typing).

 Please note that the year is very busy (6 weeks left). There are many events, forms, permission slips, and more that need to returned to school. Please refer back to this blog weekly and check your child's folder (both classroom and school issued) every night to ensure you see everything. 

Upcoming Events:

• St. Edward Spring Program April 29 (All St. Edward Families) will participate in.  It is a Matinee and evening show times. Hortonville families will watch the Lorax
• Lorax permissions Please send the email/note indicating your child can watch the Lorax in class (PG) by Wednesday April 29 AM
• Thursday April 30 begins our ABC Countdown to the end of the year. It is completely optional, but students are invited to do a specific activity that starts with that letter for each day they are in school.  Click HERE for days. This came home in weekly folders as well.
• Bloomin' Bonanza Plate Purchase If you would like to purchase the plate your child makes, please send me a note by MAY 6 indicating and PAYMENT $15.  Checks can be written to St. Edward.  You can send this anytime.  ***ANY PLATES NOT PAID FOR BY THE TIME OF THE SALE WILL NEED TO GO INTO THE GENERAL SALE***
• Bloomin' Bonanza May 8-9 is our school wide plant and craft sale. It has a large variety of annuals, perennials, student made projects and local vendors.  Our class will be making decorative plates/plant stands to donate to the sale.  Please consider coming out and supporting the school!
• FINAL BOOK ORDER WILL BE DUE MAY 15.  Please click on the link for scholastic at the top of this page.  When you buy books for your child, it helps buy books and supplies for our classrooms. You can use any of the variety of fliers that have been coming home (April, May, & June).
• PALS assessments will run for 2 weeks (10 school days) in May.  This may modify lesson plans/have a few less projects.
• Safety Fair Field Trip May 20. Students will be traveling by bus to Hillside preschool to learn about a variety of summer safety tips and even do a bike safety rodeo!  Permission slips will be coming home closer to the date.  There is no cost, and we will not need chaperones.
• Graduation is held WEDNESDAY MAY 27, 2015 5:30-6:30.  Students sing some songs, show off their technology skills with a power point they help type, you see first day of school photos with graduation photos, they receive their certificates and letter/number books, and then there is a short social afterwards.  

Important Notes:

•  Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*(students are more than welcome to bring layers daily or to leave in their lockers)  It may also be time to change out the change of clothes to make sure they are weather appropriate.  If you send a new change of clothes, we will send the warm weather clothes in their backpacks.
• Folders. Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way. As we start letter of the week, we will also start sending home homework to help reinforce the letter concept and identification.  Please work on this with you child to help the students make the connection between home and school. 
• Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving. 
• Literacy Bags come home every three weeks.  Students will have a week to complete the project inside and can then return the bag with completed sheets in it on TUESDAYS.
• Library Books come every week.  We go to library on Monday and student have the opportunity to check out a book and keep it for a week. It can be kept in their back packs or at home, but please remember to bring it on Mondays.

Next Week:
Theme: Plants
Number of the week: 3, 4
Snack: Peterson Family

2015 ABC COUNTDOWN

Alphabet Countdown

The end of the year is almost here!  We are going to count down the last 26 days by celebrating a letter of the alphabet each day.  Participation is optional for most of the activities, but they will all be fun and bring the year to  an end quickly.  The countdown begins on Thursday, April 30th.

ALL EVENTS ARE OPTIONAL.  FRIDAYS ARE HIGHLIGHTED AS ONLY A VERY FEW 4K STUDENTS ATTEND FRIDAYS. IF YOUR CHILD DOES ATTEND FRIDAYS-PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY ARE STILL DRESSED FOR MASS

Thursday, 4/30 A Apple Day.  Bring an apple to school for an extra snack.

Friday, 5/1 B Balloon Day. Play a fun game with balloons.

Monday 5/6 C Crazy Hair- come to school with crazy hair!

Tuesday, 5/5 D Dress for Cinco De Mayo today.

Wed., 5/6 E Exercise Day. Exercise in class today.

Thursday, 5/7 F Favorite Team Day.  Dress as your favorite team today.

Friday, 5/8 G Go shopping at Bloomin’ Bonanza today.

Monday, 5/11 H Healthy snack day.  Bring an extra snack to eat in your classroom today.

Tuesday, 5/12 I Individual Day.  Bring a book to read by yourself outside today. (if weather permits)

Wed. 5/13  J Job Day.  Do odd jobs around school today and make your teacher smile.

Thursday, 5/14 K Kick up your heels and run the iRun today. (PM)  Hortonville 4k will kick up their heels and run with their teachers

Friday, 5/15 L Let’s honor Mary with the May Crowning (St. Edward 4K through 5th grade)

Monday, 5/18  M Meet on the bus to go to see Charlotte’s Web (St. Edward 4K through 5th grade). Hortonville 4k will Move like crazy with extra gym/outside time

Tuesday, 5/19 N No tests or homework day!

Wed., 5/20 O  Orange Day.  Wear orange.

Thursday, 5/21 P Pick friends to sit by today in class.

Friday, 5/22 Q Quick visit a new classroom.

Monday, 5/25 No School Memorial Day

Tuesday, 5/26 R Recess day!  Have an extra recess today.

Wed., 5/27 S Special surprise day

Thursday, 5/28 T Tons of color day.  Wear as many colors today as you can!

Friday, 5/29 U USA Day. Wear red, white and blue today.

Monday, 6/1 V Video Day. We will watch a video today.

Tuesday, 6/2 W Wildlife Day.  We will visit the NEW Zoo today. (3K, St. Edward 4K, K-5). Hortonville 4k will watch a wild life movie while playing.

Wed., 6/3 X XTRA Fun Day! We will be doing something fun outside today!

Thursday, 6/4 Y You will clean your desk and locker day!

Friday, 6/5 Z Zip up your backpack and Zoom home for the Zummer!!!

Trees and seasons

We started our discussion of trees and seasons this week.  Again, there was a lot of science this week.  I feel that at this time of year, it gets easier to have the abstract concepts of science in the room as they have a stronger foundation on the basics. 

We labeled the parts of a tree by writing the sound we hear first on the line.  We are getting good at Labeling a Diagram.  Some of our friends are able to do this almost independently, and some of us are still working on letters.  The cook part of these projects is it allows us to teach to the level each child is ready for.

Students then made another model, this one of a tree.  Students cut out their hands for the branches.  They then glued cotton balls on the fingertips and stamped them green.  They then put the branches on the trunk (tube). They then pulled apart a string to make roots.  Though this seems like a simple project, it really worked on their fine motor skills.

We then talked about how the trees change in the seasons.  Students started with writing the sound they hear first on the seasons.  Again, this was tailored to each child's ability. We then stamped their hands 4 times.  (they helped count).  Then students talked about what they see in nature in each season and they glued that on their trees: leaves from basket stuffings, fall leaves falling from colorful paper, glitter for snow, and crumpled tissue paper for buds.  This again worked on their fine motor skills again.

Students then watched the following video.  They thought it was very cool how closely their pictures paralleled to the video.  They really liked this video!

 

We also illustrated the life of a tree and part of the seasons and weather with some tree yoga.  We took another video for your viewing pleasure!

The letter of the week was Zz. We learned the sign language for a letter, the literacy link sound symbols, the letter sound, and looking at and writing it in both capital letters and lower case letters.  Click here to view the many ways we learn the letter of the week!

Each week we watch letter videos from "Have Fun Teaching" and the students are really picking up the names of letters, formations, and the sounds of letters.  Check out these videos with you child!  Click HERE.

The Tuesday project of letter of the week is to decorate a letter with something that starts with the letter. This week we decorated the letter Zz with Zig-Zags.  On Thursday, our letter of the week project was to read a page from our alphabet book, Z is for zebra.

A big part of kindergarten readiness is making sure the student can correctly and efficiently use their tools.  It is also that their letters are written (and identified) correctly so they can begin the reading and writing process.  PLEASE help your child hold pencils and scissors correctly, name the letters and numbers, and correctly write the letters and numbers.  

pencils need to be held in a "tri-pod/pincher grip.
Pointer and thumb should pinch the pencil and the
pencil should rest in the middle finger on the top
kuckle.  The thumb and the pointer should make
a round/circular shape

Scissors need to be held thumb up, cut
away from the body, and pushing foward
as the fingers and thumb open and close.

Writing the letters correctly will help them greatly in kindergarten as they will be more fluent in their writing if it is done correctly.  A good rule of thumb: START AT THE TOP AND CIRCLE BACK.  Circle back homework came home this week as well; it is essential students circle back rather than forwards for the correct formation of the letter.   I can send home the correct formation of the letters to help you work with them (this also came home in Holiday Homework).

Writing the numbers is equally as important as it is essential in communicating their math answers.  Please help your child name and write the numbers they best they can (ideally: count objects to 10, write up to 10, identify up to 12, count orally to 20, ).  Please note how the numbers look in the image.  This is how we write our numbers including the 2, 4, and 9 (not as they show up when typing).

 Please note that the year is very busy (and only 8 weeks left!). There are many events, forms, permission slips, and more that need to returned to school. Please refer back to this blog weekly and check your child's folder (both classroom and school issued) every night to ensure you see everything. 

Upcoming Events:

PLEASE RETURN GRADUATION PHOTO ENVELOPES & GRADUATION FORMS BY WEDNESDAY APRIL 22

 
• Final Reading with the Stars will be Monday April 20.
• Graduation Photos April 22 during class time. We have a professional photographer (the same one that did school photos) come and take pictures of your child in Graduation gear (provided by her).  You will have the opportunity to purchase these photos like you did the school photos.  We will be sending out permission/payment envelopes.  Please be sure to turn these in regardless of whether you intend to purchase--we cant take their picture without your permission.  We use the photos in the graduation slide show.
• Spring Field Trip April 23.  Permission slips ARE DUE.  We will be going to Mosquito Hill in New London to talk about how animals wake up in spring.  Students will need to be dressed for the weather and hiking outside.
• St. Edward Spring Program April 29 (All St. Edward Families) will participate in.  It is a Matinee and evening show times. Hortonville families will receive a permissions email (like the Christmas program) closer to the date to watch the matinee performance.
• Bloomin' Bonanza May 8-9 is our school wide plant and craft sale. It has a large variety of annuals, perennials, student made projects and local vendors.  Our class will be making decorative plates/plant stands to donate to the sale.  Please consider coming out and supporting the school!
• FINAL BOOK ORDER WILL BE DUE MAY 15.  Please click on the link for scholastic at the top of this page.  When you buy books for your child, it helps buy books and supplies for our classrooms. 
• PALS assessments will run for 2 weeks (10 school days) in May.  This may modify lesson plans/have a few less projects.
• Safety Fair Field Trip May 20. Students will be traveling by bus to Hillside preschool to learn about a variety of summer safety tips and even do a bike safety rodeo!  Permission slips will be coming home closer to the date.  There is no cost, and we will not need chaperones.
• Graduation is held during one of the last 2 weeks of the school year.  Students sing some songs, show off their technology skills with a powerpoint they help type, you see first day of school photos with graduation photos, they receive their certificates and letter/number books, and then there is a short social afterwards.  In the beginning of May, we send out a sheet with days that work best/dont work.  We then tally up the yeses and the day with the most yeses is when graduation is held.  We know with t-ball and such starting in May, it can be hard so we try to do what works best.  Please look for that and return it as soon as you can.

Important Notes:

•  Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*(students are more than welcome to bring layers daily or to leave in their lockers)  It may also be time to change out the change of clothes to make sure they are weather appropriate.  If you send a new change of clothes, we will send the warm weather clothes in their backpacks.
• Folders. Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way. As we start letter of the week, we will also start sending home homework to help reinforce the letter concept and identification.  Please work on this with you child to help the students make the connection between home and school. 
• Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving. 
• Literacy Bags come home every three weeks.  Students will have a week to complete the project inside and can then return the bag with completed sheets in it on TUESDAYS.
• Library Books come every week.  We go to library on Monday and student have the opportunity to check out a book and keep it for a week. It can be kept in their back packs or at home, but please remember to bring it on Mondays.

Next Week:
Theme: Earth Day.Recycle
Number of the week: 0 1 2
Snack: Fischer (Obermueller) Family

Insects!

Students have been learning the parts of an insect. They can tell you there are 3 parts to an insect: head, thorax, and abdomen. They also have antennae, 6 legs, and an exoskeleton. Your child can't remember? Have them sing the song! (see the video below!)

We talked a lot about science this week. We talked about labeling a diagram (and then did it in small group). We talked about looking at the sounds letters make to help us know what word we were gluing on. We also talked about making a model (we did this in small group as well).

Students used their fine motor skills to cut through the paper tubes-it wasn't easy but they tried really hard to get it done! They then told the 3 parts and what was missing. Once the model was finished, we sang the song to make sure that it was all there!

 We made predictions and did tests to try out our predictions. We had tiny capsules and we made some predictions of what would happen if we put them in hot water. We then tested it out. Students got to bring home the insect shaped sponges.

Students played with insects in sensory table and sorted them.

Students had insects and magnifying glasses in discovery center.

A big part of kindergarten readiness is making sure the student can correctly and efficiently use their tools.  It is also that their letters are written (and identified) correctly so they can begin the reading and writing process.  PLEASE help your child hold pencils and scissors correctly, name the letters and numbers, and correctly write the letters and numbers.  

pencils need to be held in a "tri-pod/pincher grip.
Pointer and thumb should pinch the pencil and the
pencil should rest in the middle finger on the top
kuckle.  The thumb and the pointer should make
a round/circular shape

Scissors need to be held thumb up, cut
away from the body, and pushing foward
as the fingers and thumb open and close.

Writing the letters correctly will help them greatly in kindergarten as they will be more fluent in their writing if it is done correctly.  A good rule of thumb: START AT THE TOP AND CIRCLE BACK.  Circle back homework came home this week as well; it is essential students circle back rather than forwards for the correct formation of the letter.   I can send home the correct formation of the letters to help you work with them (this also came home in Holiday Homework).

Writing the numbers is equally as important as it is essential in communicating their math answers.  Please help your child name and write the numbers they best they can (ideally: count objects to 10, write up to 10, identify up to 12, count orally to 20, ).  Please note how the numbers look in the image.  This is how we write our numbers including the 2, 4, and 9 (not as they show up when typing).

 Please note that the year is very busy (and only 8 weeks left!). There are many events, forms, permission slips, and more that need to returned to school. Please refer back to this blog weekly and check your child's folder (both classroom and school issued) every night to ensure you see everything. 

Upcoming Events:

• Our school will be going through the Accreditation process April 13-15.  There will be additional people in our building observing the classroom/school environment as well as the teachers.  
• Final Reading with the Stars will be Monday April 20.
• Graduation Photos April 22 during class time. We have a professional photographer (the same one that did school photos) come and take pictures of your child in Graduation gear (provided by her).  You will have the opportunity to purchase these photos like you did the school photos.  We will be sending out permission/payment envelopes.  Please be sure to turn these in regardless of whether you intend to purchase--we cant take their picture without your permission.  We use the photos in the graduation slide show. Forms come home on MONDAY.
• Spring Field Trip April 23.  Permission slips will be coming out right after spring break.  We will be going to Mosquito Hill in New London to talk about how animals wake up in spring.  Students will need to be dressed for the weather and hiking outside.  If you are interested in chaperoning and have not done so already please take the VIRTUS class and fill out all the appropriate background checks.  These take time so you can start now before the permission slips come out.
• St. Edward Spring Program April 29 (All St. Edward Families) will participate in.  It is a Matinee and evening show times. Hortonville families will receive a permissions email (like the Christmas program) closer to the date to watch the matinee performance.
• Bloomin' Bonanza May 8-9 is our school wide plant and craft sale. It has a large variety of annuals, perennials, student made projects and local vendors.  Our class will be making decorative plates/plant stands to donate to the sale.  Please consider coming out and supporting the school!
• FINAL BOOK ORDER WILL BE DUE MAY 15.  Please click on the link for scholastic at the top of this page.  When you buy books for your child, it helps buy books and supplies for our classrooms. 
• PALS assessments will run for 2 weeks (10 school days) in May.  This may modify lesson plans have a few less projects.
• Safety Fair Field Trip May 20. Students will be traveling by bus to Hillside preschool to learn about a variety of summer safety tips and even do a bike safety rodeo!  Permission slips will be coming home closer to the date.  There is no cost, and we will not need chaperones.
• Graduation is held during one of the last 2 weeks of the school year.  Students sing some songs, show off their technology skills with a powerpoint they help type, you see first day of school photos with graduation photos, they recieve their certificates and letter/number books, and then there is a short social afterwards.  In the beginning of May, we send out a sheet with days that work best/dont work.  We then tally up the yeses and the day with the most yeses is when graduation is held.  We know with t-ball and such starting in May, it can be hard so we try to do what works best.  Please look for that and return it as soon as you can.

Important Notes:

•  Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*(students are more than welcome to bring layers daily or to leave in their lockers)  It may also be time to change out the change of clothes to make sure they are weather appropriate.  If you send a new change of clothes, we will send the warm weather clothes in their backpacks.
• Folders. Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way. As we start letter of the week, we will also start sending home homework to help reinforce the letter concept and identification.  Please work on this with you child to help the students make the connection between home and school. 
• Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving. 
• Literacy Bags come home every three weeks.  Students will have a week to complete the project inside and can then return the bag with completed sheets in it on TUESDAYS.
• Library Books come every week.  We go to library on Monday and student have the opportunity to check out a book and keep it for a week. It can be kept in their back packs or at home, but please remember to bring it on Mondays.

Next Week:
Theme: Trees.Seasons
Letter of the Week: Zz
Snack: Bonnet Family